Phnom Penh, 30 September 2025 — Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia, on Monday received a courtesy call from H.E. Marcos dos Reis da Costa, the newly appointed Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Cambodia.

During the meeting, Samdech Khuon Sudary congratulated Ambassador da Costa and expressed confidence that his tenure would further strengthen bilateral ties. She reaffirmed Cambodia’s strong support for Timor-Leste and pledged to maintain close relations with members of parliament, parliamentary commissions, and the Secretariat-General of the National Assembly.

Welcoming Timor-Leste’s forthcoming admission as the 11th member of ASEAN in October, the NA President commended its active engagement in regional cooperation. She also recalled Timor-Leste’s official admission into the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) at its 46th General Assembly in the Malaysia, remarking, “We have gained one more friend with whom we share strong relations.”

Amid global uncertainties, Samdech Khuon Sudary stressed the importance of solidarity among small nations. “In today’s complex world, small countries must join hands to uphold peaceful mechanisms, guided by the UN Charter, the ASEAN Charter, and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation,” she said.

For his part, Ambassador da Costa reaffirmed his commitment to advancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation. He highlighted Cambodia’s longstanding friendship with Timor-Leste, including support during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the process of ASEAN accession. He also recalled the visit of Samdech Techo Hun Sen to Timor-Leste in May 2025 as a symbol of close ties and emphasized that Timor-Leste has much to learn from Cambodia’s post-conflict recovery and nation-building.

“This October, Timor-Leste will become a full ASEAN member. We are on the right path, and I am committed to strengthening government-to-government, parliament-to-parliament, and people-to-people cooperation,” he affirmed. The ambassador further noted that Timorese students are studying in Cambodia under scholarship programs and voiced hope for expanded educational and cultural exchanges.

Reflecting on Cambodia’s own journey from conflict to peace under the leadership of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the architect of peace in Cambodia, Samdech Khuon Sudary reiterated Cambodia’s unwavering commitment to peaceful dispute resolution. She underlined that Cambodia has never harbored territorial ambitions and emphasized dialogue frameworks such as the Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) and the Regional Boundary Committee (RBC) as essential mechanisms.

“Conflicts can never be resolved by force. At the end of the day, negotiation is the only way forward,” she stressed, calling for patience and adherence to ceasefire agreements in line with ASEAN and international law.

She further highlighted that, “the older generation provides valuable experience, while the younger brings innovation, ensuring leadership continuity and stability.”

Samdech Khuon Sudary also encouraged broader cooperation in trade, tourism, and education, noting Cambodia’s rice exports to Timor-Leste and scholarship programs for Timorese students since 2011.